Howard Gardner suggests that awareness of our body is a facet of intelligence. My score would probably not break any records. But I am addressing that lack by attending a class about posture.
This week the leader showed us the difference between reaching with a curved and caved in shoulder, as opposed to moving at the hinge. A woman in the class who is farther along the path that I am confirmed its power.
"If I grab without thinking, it strains me. But after doing this for a few months I am learning to come from a different place.'
She also described the shift in terms of her words. When she succumbs to gossip and jealousy, she can retrace her words and come from a position of compassion."
A different place. The words resonated like the bell the leader sometimes uses to help us focus. Caving in to judgmental comments does not come from the integrity illustrative of a straight spine. Yet it easily becomes the default motion, and only with deliberate attention can we begin to remember another way.
The other day John related a story and got some of the details wrong. Or at least they did not jive with my impeccable recall. Rather than slouching from the position of correcting him, I chose to let him tell it in his own way. I kept my mouth shut and simply listened. I watched his eyes as he spoke, and observed the fall of gray hair across his temples. Editing his narrative seemed like a wasteful use of energy.
